VERSUS seriously sucks!!!

[CiclismoDeCalifornia]

So yesterday they could not provide live coverage, they just recapped stage 1 (pretty lame in my opinion).

Today during the most exciting part of the race (final kilometers and finish), they switch over to some pre-game hockey, total BS!!!. WTF versus?
Either serve us right or don't serve us at all!

I definitely like the way UNIVERSAL covers Cycling races a lot more. The Giro coverage has been pretty good so far (I try not to let Steve Schlanger's commentary get to me).

Who else agrees?

 

[knewcleardaze]

I have to agree. Universal Sports coverage of The Giro is not too bad.
I'm not hardly paying any mind to T of Ca.
I look here for T of Cal coverage.

 

[theswordsman]

They couldn't provide coverage yesterday because the FAA wouldn't let the plane that receives the camera signals fly. I read that ice was forming at 10,000 feet. And it wasn't Versus, it was the race that couldn't provide the feed to them, Eurosport or whoever.

There's not much need to pay Universal Sports when La Gazzetta provides an excellent free feed.

Edit: Sorry, I haven't had a TV for years, and just realized you might mean that and not online. But the plane thing holds true either way.

 

[scribe]

While I am grateful we are getting any cycling coverage, I think versus has to make a commitment to make the coverage good if they are gonna do it.

 

[rwyliem]

Amen!! WTF!! How can they cut off coverage in the last minutes for pregame hockey commercials?!?!?!?! Where's Heidi?

 

[SpeedWay]

They are either clueless or they don't give a damn. The race ended about 2 minutes after the top of the hour and they dropped a big brown warm one on anyone that was watching and enjoying the race. Go away Versus.

 

[Anonymous]

I taped the race because I was out riding. Came home, made some dinner, and started the coverage. Got all the way to the end and found out that my taping of the stage was basically useless because I wasn't going to get to see the end because they had to do the hockey pre-game. Fcuk Versus. They don't even have the final meters on video yet on their site, so I had to settle for reading the stage coverage here. What a complete clusterfcuk.

 

[Angliru]

While I am grateful we are getting any cycling coverage, I think versus has to make a commitment to make the coverage good if they are gonna do it.

+1

They really need to reign in Bob Roll. He has gone off the deep end with some of his ridiculous misinterpretations of the facts and especially his over-the-top love affair with Armstrong. It borders on the psychotic.

 

[Hitchey]

In addition to cutting off the most important part of the stage, I'm also so tired of hearing Paul and Phil talking with their heads so far up the Lance machine tail end. The commentary they provide is at times so far off the mark with regards to what is going on in the race that it's pitiful. How did they know when they claimed that Andy Schleck was dropped and just could not go with the lead 3 on bonny doon? Maybe that's his build up to the tour? Yes, I know, I've got issues, I still can't get over them going on and on about what a great teammate LA was to AC in the tour and how he didn't chase on Verbier.....

 

[BroDeal]

+1

They really need to reign in Bob Roll. He has gone off the deep end with some of his ridiculous misinterpretations of the facts and especially his over-the-top love affair with Armstrong. It borders on the psychotic.

That sad thing about Bob Roll is that he could be a really fun commentator if he could pull his head out of Armstrong's rear. He was interesting when he used to do the Giro commentary.

 

[SpeedWay]

In addition to cutting off the most important part of the stage, I'm also so tired of hearing Paul and Phil talking with their heads so far up the Lance machine tail end. The commentary they provide is at times so far off the mark with regards to what is going on in the race that it's pitiful. How did they know when they claimed that Andy Schleck was dropped and just could not go with the lead 3 on bonny doon? Maybe that's his build up to the tour? Yes, I know, I've got issues, I still can't get over them going on and on about what a great teammate LA was to AC in the tour and how he didn't chase on Verbier.....

No issues, you're where you belong. It wouldn't be an official sanctioned cNews thread if LA wasn't dissed at least once in it irregardless if the thread has nothing to do with him. True to form, all hijackers welcome!

 

[thehog]

That sad thing about Bob Roll is that he could be a really fun commentator if he could pull his head out of Armstrong's rear. He was interesting when he used to do the Giro commentary.

G0 Lance! twitter:

Who's the dumbass @versustv that cut off @AmgenTourofCali coverage w/ a mile to go for pregame hockey?? #pathetic

 

[Bala Verde]

G0 Lance! twitter:

Who's the dumbass @versustv that cut off @AmgenTourofCali coverage w/ a mile to go for pregame hockey?? #pathetic

I bet that guy gets fired now.

Ouch. The job market still isn't particularly whooptidoo.

 

[Anonymous]

G0 Lance! twitter:

Who's the dumbass @versustv that cut off @AmgenTourofCali coverage w/ a mile to go for pregame hockey?? #pathetic

In one day I have agreed with santacruz, Speedway, and Lance Armstrong. I am speechless.

 

[SpeedWay]

In one day I have agreed with santacruz, Speedway, and Lance Armstrong. I am speechless.

Don't worry, you probably rode too hard and dug yourself a little TSB hole. Get some sleep and recover. You'll bring your A-game tomorrow and go back to slaying the infidels once again.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, you probably rode too hard and dug yourself a little TSB hole. Get some sleep and recover. You'll bring your A-game tomorrow and go back to slaying the infidels once again.

Thanks for the pep-talk. I feel better already.

 

[bobs nob]

+1

They really need to reign in Bob Roll. He has gone off the deep end with some of his ridiculous misinterpretations of the facts and especially his over-the-top love affair with Armstrong. It borders on the psychotic.

It's been said before, Bob, Phil and Paul have seen their careers go from relative obscurity in media to a serious bump in fame and fortune. All 'cuz of one man. I despise their coverage and commentary, but I understand what drives it.

 

[Martin318is]

It's been said before, Bob, Phil and Paul have seen their careers go from relative obscurity in media to a serious bump in fame and fortune. All 'cuz of one man. I despise their coverage and commentary, but I understand what drives it.

Its funny though because the SBS channel in Australia picked up Phil and Paul's coverage back in the mid 90's and it went from a 30min highlight show for a few years to a highlight show plus a live end of stage to now which is almost every stage live for the last few hours.

The popularity of the coverage grew independantly of Lance but you could really see them change their style in about 2003 or so. A lot of my friends have stopped watching because they suck so much now

 

[Beech Mtn]

While I am grateful we are getting any cycling coverage, I think versus has to make a commitment to make the coverage good if they are gonna do it.

+1 Versus is hard to watch these days, due to the inane commentary, but the HD pictures are amazing. They are so close to having a great product, but cr@p like cutting away a mile before the finish line has to stop.

 

[scribe]

I'll admit, I lol'd when they were going overhead video of the peloton and highlighting where Lance was in the group. It had absolutely nothing to do with the race.

 

[Beech Mtn]

I'll admit, I lol'd when they were going overhead video of the peloton and highlighting where Lance was in the group. It had absolutely nothing to do with the race.

Just be glad they don't have a little RadioShack jersey icon at the bottom of the screen like at last year's TdF.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I can't believe people still watch Versus. Seriously.

 

[mikeNphilly]

I spoke with some VS and Comcast Sportsnet guys tonight at the Flyers game and one of the things we talked about was the cutting of the race short on live tv. When I walked into their area one of the producers was like "everyone duck the mad cyclist is here, we cut off the end of the race"
Basically no matter what was on VS before the Flyers game, by contract with the NHL they have to go to the game. Al Morganti said, if it had been 1989 and Fignon was on the last mile we would have had to go to the Flyers game(Al used to cover the Tour de France).

Remember VS ratings have gone up over 270% when they show NHL games, so they go to where their money maker is.
With two major markert teams on the air, all the more reason to cut to NHL

 

[CiclismoDeCalifornia]

I can't believe people still watch Versus. Seriously.

I asked myself that very same question as they switched over from the live coverage of the race to the pre-game hockey report. unfortunately there isn't another option for HD live coverage of The TofC. I'm considering going up north now to find a good spot at the KOM points marks for the next stages.

 

[sunderland56]

To make matters worse, they sent everyone to the Amgen web site to watch the final kilo... and, of course, the web site was swamped with all of the requests, and basically inaccessible.

Everyone should boycott both Versus, and their sponsors like Road ID. *****ing won't make a difference - we need to cost them money.